Church pew



March 26, 1957 A. c. HOVEN ET AL 2,785,513

' CHURCH FEW Filed June 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l IINVENTORS Alfred (7.1100611 '3 Walfer 1'1. Nordmarli BY Mxfflaa/aloc ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 A. c. HOVEN ET AL CHURCH PEW Filed June 30, 1954 INVENTORS Alfred, C. Haven 2) Wall-er E. No z-clmarli ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 A. c. HOVEN ET AL 2,786,513

CHURCH FEW Filed June 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Alfre (1 C H0138 tL 9 Walfez EJVoz'dmaz-li ATTORNEY United States Patent CHURCH- PEW Alfred C. Haven and Walter E. Nordmark, Grand- Rapids, Michz, assignors to Americanseating Company, Grand Rapids,Mich.,- acorporation of New Jersey ApplicationIuneSll, 1954, Serial No. 440,316 4'=-Cliiims.- c1; 1155 -18 The present invention relates to pews especially designed to provide seating for churches, butof possible use elsewhere.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an upholstered pew in. which worshippers may be comfortable during religiousservices; to provide such a pew in which is utilized more or less conventional and usually decorative supporting standards commonly known as pew ends; to provide such an upholstered church pew in: which the space below and to the rear of the seat is clear for the accommodation of a kneeler for the use of occupants of apew to the rear; to provide such a church pew in. which the upholstered seat and back cushions are readily removable for repair or replacement of the upholstery materials therein; to provide such a church pew in which. the upholstered seat cushion is reversible from front to rear so that when the front edge becomes worn the cushion: may be reversed to present a new or unworn front edge; and ingeneral to provide such an upholstered church pew which is sturdy in construction and attractive in appearance.

The above objects are attained by the illustrative embodiment of the invention hereinafter particularly described, and shown. in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of" a church pew constructed according to theinVentiQn;

Figure Z-is a vertical sectional view of the pew taken online 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper rear partsof thepew;

Figure 4- is a fragmentary rear view of the pew, shown partly in rear elevation and partly in section indicated by the lines 44 of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts of the pew, taken on lines 55 of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain parts shown in Figure 3 and illustrating the assembly of said parts;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts of the pew taken on line 7--7 of Figure 4-;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of parts of the pew, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of other parts of the pew likewise taken on line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the church pew there illustrated generally C0111- prises spaced upright supporting standards or pew ends 10 preferably of wood, an elongated seat cushion 11 and an elongated back cushion 12 extending between and supported on said pew ends 10.

The upper back support comprises a cross-sectionally inverted U-shaped member or bar 13 extending between the pew ends, the downwardly opening mouth of which bar is closed by a channel member 14 secured to the bar "ice 13 as by means of welding. The opposite endsof this assembly 13, 1-4 embrace mounting brackets 15 which are secured to the pew endslll respectively by means of woodscrews 16 and which have arcuate flanges 17 extending inwardly from the pew ends for supporting the upper back support. The channel member 14 has an upwardly extending longitudinal rear channel 18 and a somewhat wider upwardly extending longitudinal. front channel 19 (see Figure 3). As shown the upper back support is covered by an outer decorative layer 20 of suitable'materialsuch as a plastic sheet applied to said support as by means of anadhesive.

The lower back support comprises an elongated plate 21 (see Figure 7) extending between the pew ends 10" and secured thereto at its opposite ends by means of woodscrews 22 passing through apertures in forwardly turned flanges 23 of brackets 2'4 secured to the ends of plate 21 as by means of welding. The lower edge of plate 21 is curled rearwardly and upwardly to form a groove 25, and the upper edge of plate 21 is provided with a forwardly extendingflange 26,

A back panel. 27 of suitable material such as plywood hasits upper edge disposed. in the rear channel 18 of channel member 14, and has its lower edge disposed in groove of plate 21.

The back cushion 12 comprises a rectangular frame 28 of angle-bar construction, and the upper and lower rails of this frame 28 are provided with paired hook-receiving apertures 29 at intervals therealong. Hooks 30 are disposed in these apertures as best seen in Figures 3, 5 and 7. Sinuous springs 31 have their opposite ends engaged in the pairs of hooks 30 as shown, and hooks. are held in proper position on the frame by the tension of these springs. An upholstery pad 32 of latex-impregnated hair or the like is disposed over the sinuous springs 31, and another upholstery pad 33 of cotton or the like is disposed over the pad 32. An upholstery covering sheet 34 of fabric or other suitable material is stretched over the padding 32, 33, around. the frame 28, and has its edges detachably secured to the frame as by means of spring clips35 (see Figures 4-6). Struts 36 have flanges 37 at their upper and lower ends which are secured as by welding to the upper and lower rails of the frame 28, for strengthening the back cushion structure.

The back cushion 12 is removably installed on the pew by inserting its. upper edge into the front channel 19 of the channel member 14 as indicated in Figure 6, and then pressing the lower edge of this cushion rearwardly until it is seated on flange 23 of plate 21 for support. It will be seen in Figure 2 that the struts 36 are formed so as to rest against the back panel 27 in this assembled position of the back cushion. if desired, screws or other means (not shown) may be provided for more permanently assembling the lower edge of the back cushion to flange 23.

The seat cushion 11 is constructed similarly to the back cushion 12. This seat cushion 11 comprises a rigid rectangular frame 38 fabricated from four lengths of cross sectionally generally C-shaped stock secured together at the corners of the frame by means of angle brackets 39 welded to the adjacent lengths of stock. The front and rear rails of this seat frame 33 are provided with paired hook-receiving apertures 4d at intervals therealong. Hooks 41 are disposed in these apertures as best seen in Figures 7, 8 and 9. Sinuous spring 42 have their opposite ends engaged in the pairs of books 41 as shown, and the hooks are held in proper position on the frame by the tension of these springs. An upholstery pad 43 of latex-impregnated hair or the like is disposed over the sinuous springs 42, and another upholstery pad 44 of cotton or the like is disposed over the pad 43. An upholstery covering sheet 45 of the same material as the back covering sheet 34 is stretched over the padding 43,

44, around the frame 38, and has its edges detachably secured to the frame as by means of spring clips 46 (see Figures 2 and 7-9). Struts 47 have flanges 48 at their forward and rearward ends which are secured as by welding to the front and rear rails of the frame 38, and other flanges 49 secured as by welding to the upwardly extending inner edges 5% of said front and rear rails, for strengthening the seat cushion structure.

The seat cushion is removably installed on the pew by mounting the ends of the seat cushion frame 38 on seat-supporting brackets 51 secured to the pew ends 1t? respectively as by means of woodscrews 52. The brackets 51 extend forwardly-rearwardly on the pew ends and have their lower edges turned inwardly and then upwardly to form channels for the reception of the end portions of the seat cushions cross-sectionally C-shaped frame. Bolts 53 having nuts 54 on their upper ends are provided for securing the seat cushion in proper position on the seat supporting brackets.

The seat cushion 11 is substantially symmetrical with respect to a central transverse perpendicular plane therethrough so that the disposition of the seat between the pew ends is reversible. Thus when the front edge of the seat becomes worn the cushion can be reversed so as to present a new or unworn front edge.

.t will thus be seen that the invention provides a sturdy, attractive and comfortable pew for use in churches, chapels and the like, and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a pew: spaced upright pew ends; seat-supporting brackets mounted on said pew ends; a seat mounted on said brackets; a lower back support extending between said pew ends rearwardly of the seat and having its opposite ends secured to the pew ends respectively, said lower back support having a forwardly extending flange and an upwardly opening groove; an upper back support extending between the pew ends above and rearwardly of the lower back support and having its opposite ends secured to the pew ends respectively, said upper back support having a channel member provided with front and rear upwardly extending longitudinal channels therein; a back panel having its upper edge disposed in the rear channel of said upper back support and having its lower edge disposed in the groove of said lower back support; and a back having its upper edge disposed in the front channel of the upper back support and having its lower edge seated on the forwardly extending flange of said lower back support.

2. In a pew: spaced upright pew ends; a back supported on and between said pew ends; seat-supporting brackets mounted on said pew ends, said brackets extending forwardly-rearwardly on the pew ends and having their lower edges turned inwardly and then upwardly to form channels; a seat comprising a rigid cross-sectionally C-shaped seat frame having its opposite ends seated in the channets of said seat-supporting bracketsrespectively; sinuous springs spanning the seat frame from front to rear at spaced intervals along the frame; an upholstery pad disposed over the frame; an upholstery cover disposed over the pad and having its marginal edges drawn downwardly around the frame; and means securing the edges of said cover to the frame.

3. A pew according to claim 2 in which the seat is substantially symmetrical with respect to a central 10ngitudinal perpendicular plane therethrough so that the disposition of the seat between the pew ends is reversible.

4. In a pew: spaced upright pew ends; seat supporting brackets mounted on said pew ends; a seat mounted on said brackets; a lower back support extending between said pew ends rearwardly of the seat and-having its opposite ends secured to the pew ends respectively; a crosssectionally inverted U-shaped upper back support extending between the pew ends above and rearwardly of the lower back support and having its opposite ends secured to the pew ends respectively; a channel member closing the downwardly opening mouth of the upper back support and having front and rear upwardly extending longitudinal channels therein; a back panel having its upper edge disposed in the rear channel of the channel memher and having its lower edge secured to the lower back support; and an upholstered back having its upper edge disposed in the front channel of the channel member and having its lower edge supported on said lower back support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sutherland Feb. 10, 

